By Ray Collins
Florida’s Newest Resort Opens Twice on Longboat Key!
The transition from the former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort to the current St. Regis Longboat Key Resort—on the same property—has been…eventful to say the least.
The Colony had been wildly successful when some internal issues between condominium owners and management ended with finger-pointing, lawsuits–and the resort going under. Then 14 years later—almost to the day–the Marriott-owned St Regis Longboat Key Resort opened in mid-August. It immediately became one of the region’s largest employers (400).
But within weeks of opening, two hurricanes forced the pristine $331 million dollar resort to close, repair damage and clean-up. One worker cracked “It looked like Jurassic Park in here.”
To help spread the word they’ve opened—again—resort marketers invited my wife, Erin, and me out to dinner on a recent Saturday evening.
It’s a sprawling 18-acre complex with 166 hotel rooms, seventy-eight multi-million-dollar condos, four restaurants, a spa with fourteen treatment rooms, a fitness center and a large ballroom. There are pools, a lazy river and a saltwater lagoon featuring fifty “barb-less” stingrays and 2800 tropical fish—which will allow guests to snorkel among the sea life. Each pool-side chair has buttons to call for service.
Of the four restaurants, steakhouse CW Prime has become the most popular. Nice view of the sunset over the gulf. Erin had king crab, and I had a filet. We shared asparagus and potatoes. First-class all the way. The restaurant was sold-out—and I imagine it will have a busy upcoming season with snowbirds on Longboat Key looking for a new place to dine.
Other restaurants on campus include the Northern Italian Riva, the poolside Latin American sport Aura, and an open-air lounge serving Asian fusion cuisine called Oshen. There are several bars throughout the complex including the beachfront Monkey Bar, named after a popular bar during the Colony era. There’s also a large active bar in the lobby with live entertainment. The longtime pianist/singer from Sarasota restaurant Michael’s on East—Joe Michals—is now playing at St. Regis. (Fun fact: Michael’s on East co-owner Michael Klauber’s father, Murf, owned the Colony and employed Micals in the Monkey Bar! Full circle.)
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The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is a nice addition to the Sarasota area. Not only does it create hundreds of jobs, it’s also another classy option that makes our area even more elegant. And that’s no monkey business.
Ray Collins is a Sarasota-based travel writer, award-winning Realtor and former TV news anchor. www.raycollinsmedia.com
